Apex Legends Mobile: A Worthy Addition to the Battle Royale Arena?
Apex Legends Mobile, the long-awaited mobile port of EA’s popular battle royale game, has finally arrived after months of anticipation. With established giants like Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, and Call of Duty: Mobile already dominating the mobile battle royale landscape, Apex Legends Mobile faces a tough challenge to carve out its own space. But does it live up to the hype and deliver the exhilarating gameplay we’ve come to expect from the franchise? We take a deep dive into the game to see if it truly stands as a worthy competitor, or simply another contender vying for a piece of the pie.
Size, Loadout, and Initial Impressions
The Apex Legends Mobile app weighs in at a hefty 5.02GB, but that’s before you download additional content like themes and maps. Surprisingly, Kings Canyon, the original map in the game, needs to be downloaded separately. However, World’s Edge and a few Team Deathmatch (TDM) and Arenas maps come pre-installed.
The lobby in Apex Legends Mobile feels refreshingly different from the soft-launch version. It places your favorite Legend front and center, but adds a multitude of new elements and options that can feel a bit overwhelming at first. The lobby’s structure reminds one of PUBG Mobile, with a few extra features and options to explore.
Initially, you’ll only have access to a couple of Legends, but as you progress, the game rewards you with more. At launch, Apex Legends Mobile features Bloodhound, Gibraltar, Lifeline, Wraith, Octane, Bangalore, Caustic, Mirage, Pathfinder, and a new mobile-first Legend, Fade. Notable omissions like Loba, Horizon, Fuse, and others are expected to be added in future updates.
On your first launch, the game leads you through a quick tutorial introducing the controls and Legend abilities. The tutorial kicks off with Bloodhound and then takes you through an obstacle course led by the ever-entertaining Mirage. The game also features a "loadout" option that provides a quick look at all the guns in the game. We highly recommend familiarizing yourself with them and hitting the firing range to test them out before jumping into battle.
Gameplay and Controls: A Familiar Yet Unique Experience
Apex Legends Mobile offers two control layouts, each customizable to your preference. You can also choose a layout based on your preferred play style – 3-finger or 4-finger. While the controls might feel overwhelming at first, with the constant chaos of bullets flying and abilities being activated, you will eventually find a layout that works best for you.
The mobile version successfully captures the essence of the original game’s gameplay, including its signature fast-paced action and visceral gunplay. Sliding downhill, jumping for that extra push, and "third-partying" (getting attacked by another team while you’re fighting a different one) all feel familiar and intuitive. The control mechanism for these actions is well-executed, making them easy to master.
Communication is key in a game as fast-paced as Apex Legends, and the game features a new ping system that lets you mark enemies, weapons, health items, ammo, and more. The ping system utilizes your selected Legend’s voice for added immersion.
Furthermore, Apex Legends Mobile introduces global chat and squad chat, a welcome addition that was missing from the PC and console versions.
Maps and Game Modes: Variety for Every Playstyle
Apex Legends Mobile currently features two maps: Kings Canyon and World’s Edge. While the iconic Kings Canyon will be missing from the Battle Royale queue at launch, it will be available for TDM and Arenas, leaving many players disappointed. The maps follow the same storyline as the original game, featuring familiar locations (with name tags for newbies) and updated structures.
The game offers a variety of options for you to spend your time, whether you prefer to play solo or with friends. You can choose from Battle Royale, Ranked Match, TDM, Arenas, Free Practice, and the Battle Royale Event that includes modes like Armed and Dangerous, Quick Battle, and Flashpoint modes.
Apex Legends Mobile also offers both first-person perspective (FPP) and third-person perspective (TPP) modes. While TPP was introduced as a one-time mode in the PC/console version, it feels more natural in the mobile version. It’s particularly entertaining to watch Octane run for his life in TPP mode. The game allows you to switch between FPP and TPP, but only if you entered the game in TPP.
The game also includes training and tutorial modes specifically designed to ease new players into the game world. These include:
- Climbing Exercise: Learn the basics of climbing.
- Obstacle Chase: Test your agility and timing.
- Weapons 101: Familiarize yourself with the game’s weaponry.
A daily login reward system and weekly challenges for completing training keep you engaged and offer further incentives to explore and master the game.
New Additions: Fade and Legend Progression
Apex Legends Mobile introduces a unique mobile-first Legend, Fade, who brings a fresh perspective to the game.
Fade (Phasing Punisher)
- Passive Ability (Phase): Fade gains a speed boost after sliding.
- Tactical Ability (Flashback): This allows Fade to return to a previous location.
- Ultimate Ability (Phase Chamber): Fade drops a cage that throws all trapped players into the Void.
Fade adds another layer of strategy and gameplay depth, forcing players to think differently about their approach to combat and movement.
In addition to Fade, the game also introduces Legend Progression, which allows you to customize your Legend loadout with Perks, Finishers, and Ability slots. Each slot can be filled with a unique superpower that enhances your Legend’s abilities. These superpowers are unlocked by earning Legend tokens through gameplay and winning games. These abilities are currently only available in casual Battle Royale mode.
Apex Legends Mobile: A Worthy Contender?
Apex Legends Mobile successfully captures the essence of the original game, offering a fast-paced, action-packed experience with stunning graphics and immersive gameplay. The new features like Fade and Legend Progression add a layer of uniqueness and depth, while the variety of game modes and training options ensure that players of all skill levels find something to enjoy.
Pros:
- Similar to Apex Legends: The game captures the essence of the original.
- Mobile-First Legend (Fade): A unique addition that adds new gameplay mechanics and strategic opportunities.
- Unique Additions: Legend Progression and other new features differentiate the game from its PC/console counterpart.
- Good Graphics and Control Layouts: The game offers high-quality graphics and a selection of customizable control layouts to find the perfect fit for your playing style.
- Reward System: Engaging daily login rewards and weekly challenges keep players invested and motivated.
Cons:
- Not All Legends Ported: Some fan-favorite Legends are missing at launch, requiring an update for their inclusion.
- Missing Maps: Key maps like Olympus and Storm Point are absent at launch.
- Can Be Overwhelming for New Players: The sheer number of controls, Legends, and other features might be overwhelming for players unfamiliar with the franchise.
High Storage Requirement: The game requires a substantial amount of storage space.
Rating (out of 10): 8
Apex Legends Mobile marks a strong entry into the mobile battle royale scene, offering a compelling and polished gaming experience. While the game has a few areas to improve, its core gameplay, unique features, and dedication to delivering a familiar yet refreshing experience for mobile players make it a worthy competitor in the crowded battle royale market.
